Golf game and practice device



P 6, 1969 H. WEILER 3,467,388

GOLF GAME AND PRACTICE DEVICE Filed July 25, 1967 22 INVENTOR FIG-6 HARRY WEILER BY W/QJ'M ATTORNEY United States Patent O US. Cl. 273-176 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Numbered targets, up to eighteen in number, are arranged on a surface to form a practice golf course. Flat marked members are positioned adjacent the targets to indicate prescribed penalties when the golf ball comes to rest thereon. Each target includes a vertical pole having a sharpened lower end, to which a pedestal is detachably secured, and a target basket rotatably secured to the outer end of an arm having its inner end slidably secured to the pole. The connections between the target basket, arm and pole are such as to permit the target basket to be adjustably tilted to the horizontal and adjustably raised and lowered, with one of the lowered adjustments placing the target basket in contact with the pedestal supporting surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to games generally, and more particularly to golf games and practice devices suitable for either indoor or outdoor use. Most such devices generally involve the use of special clubs and balls, and con sequently fail to improve the players skill and ability in the regular game of golf. The applicants device, however, by utilizing standard golf equipment enables the player to practice his technique with a variety of clubs ranging from the five iron through the putter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention comprises a plurality of target baskets each adjustably supported on a separate pole. The poles are consecutively numbered and adapted to be mounted either in the ground for outdoor play, or in a pedestal for indoor use. The target baskets may be lowered sufiiciently so that a putter may be employed, or elevated so that a lofted club will be required to provide the necessary trajectory for the ball.

The elevated target baskets may also be tilted to the horizontal so as to render them easier targets for the less experienced player. Irregularly shaped fiat members, simulating bunkers, traps and hazards, are placed at random throughout the target area. Each such fiat member has imprinted thereon the number of penalty strokes which apply whenever a ball in play comes to rest thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing one of the target baskets 30 on a pole supported in the pedestal 16.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged section view, taken substantially on plane 22 in FIGURE 1, showing the collar 26 adjustably held on the lateral arm 20 by the retainer pin 30.

FIGURE 3 is an elevation view, taken substantially on plane 3-3 in FIGURE 2, showing alternate positions of the target basket 30 on the lateral arm 20.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged section view, taken substantially on plane 4-4 in FIGURE 2, showing the retainer pin 30 through the adjustable collar 26 and the lateral arm 20.

Patented Sept. 16, 1969 FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the jointed pole 10 supported in the ground with the target basket 32 at grass level for play with a putter.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged section view, taken substantially on plane 66 in FIGURE 5, showing the resilient clip 22 adjustably engaged on the jointed pole 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Construction For a more thorough description of the invention, reference is made to the drawing in which numeral 10 designates a jointed pole having a bayonet tip 12 on the lower end, and a triangular flag 14 at the top carrying a numerical designation. A circular pedestal 16 has an upwardly disposed socket 18 supporting therein the bayonet tip 12 of the jointed pole 10. A lateral arm 20 has on the inner end a resilient clip 22 slidably engaged on the jointed pole 10, and on the other end a pair of aligned vertically disposed openings 24.

An adjustable collar 26 on the outer end of the lateral arm 20 has therethrough a series of diametrally disposed openings 28. A removable retainer pin 30, extends through the openings 28 and 24 of the adjustable collar 26 and the lateral arm 20 respectively. A target basket 32, comprising a circular ring 34 supporting a mesh pocket 36, is attached to the adjustable collar 26. A plurality of irregularly shaped flat members 38 are appropriately colored or marked to represent water hazards, bunkers and sand traps.

Such flat members are imprinted with a number indicating the penalty strokes associated with each. Plastic balls 40 are preferably used with the applicants device to facilitate its use in small areas. To avoid confusion when several people are playing or practicing, it is advisable to employ multicolored balls. Tees, score cards, and other standard items of golf equipment may prove de sirable for use with the applicants device, but are not indispensible and constitute no part of the present invention.

The preceding discussion completes a description of the structural details of the applicants invention; however, to facilitate a more thorough comprehensive understanding of the subject matter, a discussion is hereinafter directed to the manner in which the device operates, and is used to accomplish and perform its intended function.

Operation and use In use, the poles 10 are placed throughout the playing area, so as to provide a course consisting of as many such units as space will permit up to 18 in number. The lateral arms 20 are next adjusted to the desired elevation on the posts 10, consistent with the loft of the golf club to be used by the players. The target baskets 32 are then all placed at the desired angle to the horizontal by removing the retainer pin 30 and pivoting the adjustable collar 26, as shown in FIGURE 3.

The pair of openings 26 in the adjustable collar 26, providing the desired angle for the target basket 32, are then aligned with the vertically disposed openings 24 in the lateral arm 20 and the retainer pin 30 reinserted. Play may then be commenced, and each player in turn strokes his ball 40 toward the numberone target basket 32, proceeding as in the regular game of golf. Play continues until each basket 32 on the course has been negotiated by all the players.

In event a ball 40 comes to rest during play on one of the flat members 38, representing the Water hazards, bunkers and sand traps on the course, the number of penalty strokes indicated thereon is incurred by the player.

3 The player amassing the least number of play over the entire course is declared to be the winner of the round or game. If the players elect to use a putter rather than a lofted club, the lateral arm 20 is lowered so as to place thetarget basket 32 at grass level, as shown in FIGURES.

Based upon the foregoing discussion, the applicant is of the opinion that his invention has fulfilled a long-felt need in the field of golf games and practicing devices, and that he has accordingly made a valuable contribution to the related art.

However, while the invention was described withreference to the structural details of a single embodiment, it

will be appreciated by those familiar with the art that the principles involved are susceptible of numerous other practical adaptations.

I therefore claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A golf game and practice device for play with a club and a ball, such device comprising a pole, pedestal means detachably secured to one end of said pole for supporting said pole in an upright position on a horizontal surface, an elongated arm having first and second ends, a target basket having a ball receiving opening, means for rotatably securing said target basket to the first end of said arm so that said target basket may be rotated about the longitudinal axis of said arm and held in different positions of rotation, and means for slidably securing the second end of said arm to said pole so that said arm may he slid along said pole and held at various strokes in his spaced positions therealong with said arm extending laterally therefrom, one of said last mentioned positions being such as to permit said target basket to contact said horizontal surface when said target pedestal means is positioned on said horizontal surface with said pole secured thereto in as upright position and said target basket is vertically inclined. r t

2. The device of claim 1 in which said one end of the pole is sharpened so thatit can be used as a stake and driven'into the ground to support the pole in an upright position when it is detachedfrom the pedestal means.

3. The device of claim 1 having in addition thereto a plurality of flat members for placement in the immediate area of the target basket, each such member being marked to indicate a prescribedpenalty whenever the ball in play comes to rest thereon.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 532,132 1/1895 Zareniba 273- 1,540,350 6/1925 Longnecker.

. FOREIGN PATENTS 875,316 3/1953 Germany.

GEORGE J. MARLO, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

